Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, an Islamic cleric based in Jos, Plateau State, has opposed Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s recent call for the withdrawal of soldiers from conflict-prone areas in the state. The governor made the appeal during a visit to Jebbu Binde village in Riyom Local Government Area, where over 30 people were killed on July 14 in an attack reportedly carried out by suspected Fulani militias. He urged the federal government to replace the soldiers with mobile police officers due to the military’s failure to prevent repeated attacks.
However, Sheikh Jingir, who also serves as the National Chairman of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), firmly rejected the governor’s suggestion. Speaking at a press conference in Jos on Tuesday, he warned that removing soldiers from these volatile areas could worsen insecurity and put more lives and property at risk.
He stressed that the military has been playing a crucial role in maintaining order since violence erupted in the state, and their withdrawal could further escalate the crisis. The cleric urged the military, the State House of Assembly, and other key authorities to dismiss the governor’s request.
“Sheikh Jingir emphasized that withdrawing soldiers would not solve the security challenges or bring peace to the state. Instead, he expressed full support for the continued presence of all security agencies, including the military and police, particularly under the federal government’s joint task force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), as a more effective approach to restoring and maintaining peace in Plateau State.